The  Russian Foreign Ministry called on Norway to engage in dialogue in order to resolve the problems related to Russia’s presence on the Spitsbergen (Svalbard) Archipelago, the volume and complexity of which are growing year by year.

During his meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Robert Kvile, First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov noted that the Russian side was worried by “Oslo’s destructive anti-Russian policy, which undermines the foundations of bilateral cooperation.”

According to the ministry, the ambassador presented Titov with copies of his credentials.

“Trade and economic cooperation has been practically curtailed, and difficulties in the fishery sector are growing. We called on the Norwegian side to engage in dialogue in order to resolve the problems related to Russia’s presence on the Spitsbergen Archipelago, the volume and complexity of which are growing year by year,” the ministry’s press service reported.

The Foreign Ministry noted the growing activity of NATO in northern Europe and the Arctic, including on Norway’s territory, which “destabilizes the military and political situation in this region.”

The ministry also stressed that “Norway’s involvement in supplying weapons to Kiev can only protract the hostilities, lead to new casualties, and hinder the resolution of the conflict.”